CNA Classes Bridgeport, CT

A career as a Certified Nursing Assistant can be both rewarding and challenging. CNAs are direct care professionals who provide basic care to residents and assist them with daily living activities, which may include bathing, grooming and dressing, and toileting. They also transfer patients, answer call lights, take vital signs, listen to patient concerns, observe patients and report any concerns to nurses and physicians, and serve meals. Upon completion of a state-accredited nursing assistant program, graduates take the competency exam for certification as a Certified Nurse Assistant. Candidates who successfully pass the Written exam and Skills evaluation can work in hospitals, home health agencies, and residential care facilities.

St. Vincent’s College

The CNA program at St Vincent College is designed to teach students the procedures and protocols in caring for patients. Graduates will receive CPR certification and a nursing assistant training certificate that will make them eligible to take the state licensure exam. They also have the option to continue with a course of study that will lead to certification as a Patient Care Technician. The nurse aide program covers 118 hours of study (58 hours of theory and 60 hours of clinical experience). The PCA/CNA program offers a total of 120 hours in the classroom and 264 clinical hours. Students attend classes 3 days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission requires a completed online application, official high school transcripts of GED scores, two letters of recommendation, health clearance, and security background check. Tuition for the CNA program is $1,500.

American Red Cross – Bridgeport

The American Red Cross hosts several nursing assistant training programs in Bridgeport every year. The objective of the program is to provide students with basic nursing skills to care for residents in a long-term care facility and supplemental skills to work in patients’ homes and hospitals. In accordance with state requirements, the curriculum features 76 hours in the classroom as well as 24 hours of supervised patient care at a skilled nursing facility. Both morning and evening schedules are available to accommodate students’ needs. The daytime program runs for four weeks. Students meet Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm. The clinical sessions are scheduled for the final week and take place from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The evening program runs on the six-week schedule. Class times are Monday through Wednesday from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm (for the first five weeks) and 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm (for the final week). Course topics include emergency procedures, feeding and nutrition, vital signs, patient rights, personal care, and basic nursing skills. Applicants must be 16 years or older. A TB test, current photo identification, a physical exam report, attendance at an orientation session, and a national criminal background check are some other requirements for admission. Tuition is $1,250 and covers the textbook and completion certificate.

Training Direct, LLC

Training Direct prepares nurse aide students for an entry-level position as a Nurse Assistant in a healthcare facility. Instructors emphasize the basic knowledge and practical skills needed to provide safe and competent care. The curriculum covers medical terminology, range of motion, patient rights, patient safety, communication and interpersonal skills, vital signs, rehabilitative and restorative techniques, infection control, and patient care procedures. It also includes care of the cognitively impaired, introduction to the human body, role of the nurse aide, and end of life care. Day, evening, and weekend classes are available –check the school for availability. There are 100 hours total incorporated into the curriculum, divided into 55 hours in the classroom and 45 hours at a clinical site. The average program completion time is 3 to 4 weeks. Applicants, 16 years and older, must attend a personal interview, sign the enrollment agree, and have a high school diploma or GED scores.

Valley Medical Institute

The nursing assistant program at Valley Medical Institute is a 100-hour state-approved training that prepares students for success on the competency evaluation for nurse aides. Committed instructors empower students to become capable agents of care in hospitals, nursing homes, and patients’ homes. There are two schedules available: the day class runs for 4 weeks and the evening classes are 5 weeks. A 13-week Saturday-only class is also available. A high school diploma is necessary for enrollment. However, an entrance exam will be administered to non-high school graduates who want to take the program. All applicants must pass a physical exam and TB test. A flexible tuition payment plan is available for students who cannot pay the $975 tuition in one payment.